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How to get to HaHa’s restaurant

It will probably take a while before I get to share the pictures (after processing) and stories of my Seoul backpacking trip.

In the meantime, if you’re heading to South Korea soon just as I did a month earlier, and am a Running Man fan, and am clueless on getting to HaHa Dong Hoon’s 팔자막창 restaurant, then you’re in the right page.

It’s already tough finding the place from the net and the few blogs offering help seem to only confound rather than enlighten, I know I know.

So here’s the step-by-step guide on getting to your favorite Running Man’s restaurant.

Map credit goes to NANTA

1. Take the Subway Line 2 [Green] to Hongik University station and exit at Exit 9.

The station is located between Sinchon and Hapjeong and is also located by the very happening Hongdae shopping street.

2. Getting to HAHA’s restaurant via landmarks

The entire area on the map is actually the shopping area and I would advise you to make it one of your night escapades definitely but for the sake of not getting lost, walk forward by the main road after you exit from Exit 9.

You will cross a road and bypass Tom & Tom’s Coffee (they serve great coffee!). Keep walking until you see a Massage signboard/Ginseng Chicken restaurant. Just before you turn left into a small lane, you should also see a traditional Hanok shop.

After turning left into the small lane, follow the road ahead until you see the NANTA building.

PHOTO: Reuel Eugene Tay

FYI: NANTA is South Korea’s longest running non-verbal performance show combining drama and comedy all in the kitchen There are currently four NANTA theatres (3 in Seoul and 1 in Jeju) as well as an international traveling troupe. Bottomline is you just catch it if you’re in Korea!

That would mean that you’re on the right track! Well done! Now walk a little further and turn right. You will see shops selling clothes and such, but don’t be distracted and wander away just yet.

Upon turning right, walk straight away and you should see a relatively big Marvel Superheroes poster on top of a shop. That’s your cue to keep advancing forward. Walk beyond the poster and you should see a ‘makeshift carpark’ in the middle of the shopping area. Look up, diagonally to your right and you will see the Sang Sang Ma Dang. Upon seeing this building, you know you’re really close to your destination.

The building looks like this:

PHOTO: Reuel Eugene Tay

FYI: The Design Square on the 1st level of this building offers many cool products designed by Korea’s budding young designers. Check it out! Pictures to be up soon.

Walk past Sang Sang Ma Dang and cast your eyes to your right and you should be able to see HAHA’s 팔자막창 restaurant just down the road!

하하(HaHa) 팔자막창(Pal Cha Mak Chang)

PHOTO: Reuel Eugene Tay

Signatures of past celebrities that visited. Recognize any?

PHOTO: Reuel Eugene Tay

Pork Intestine with Vegetable (Very spicy but oh-so-yummy!)

PHOTO: Reuel Eugene Tay

Got to know a new Korean friend. Meet Haesung, currently studying in the States. He’s back in homeland during his school breaks. He taught us how to eat the food! What a nice chap, dinnering with his little brother!

PHOTO: Reuel Eugene Tay

Barbecued pork intestines and pork strips anyone?

PHOTO: Reuel Eugene Tay

PHOTO: Reuel Eugene Tay

Condiments to eat the main course with

PHOTO: Reuel Eugene Tay

PHOTO: Reuel Eugene Tay

LeeSSang’s 팔자막창

PHOTO: Reuel Eugene Tay

박명수(Myeong Soo) 와 유재석(Jae Seok)!!

PHOTO: Reuel Eugene Tay

PHOTO: Reuel Eugene Tay

We went to both HaHa and LeeSSang Gary’s restaurant but they are both essentially offering the same thing, plus the food is quite pricey for Korean food standards. So if you only have a few days in Korea, just go to one. But if you’re a fan of Running Man, I say go both! 😉

Thanks for visiting!

(Whew, this entry took so much more effort and time than I’ve expected!)